Roscoe Hosts LBRA Event at Garden City Business Center

Mark Stedman - Friday, March 10, 2017

The Roscoe Company played host to the recent annual meeting and networking event of the Lawndale Business Renaissance Association (LBRA). The meeting brought together business owners from both Lawndale and Little Village at the Garden City Business Center and was a good opportunity to reflect on the LBRA's impact on the community and how the Garden City Business Center supports local small businesses.

Mission & Impact of the LBRA

The event, which included the seating of new board members and an awards ceremony, highlighted the association's growing membership and efforts to improve connections between the Lawndale and Little Village communities. The LBRA, which has expanded to include Little Village, was created to revitalize, grow and attract new businesses to the area with a mix of networking, problem solving and facilitating of local, state and federal programs and incentives.

More than 50 companies are members of the association, which has assisted in efforts resulting in more than $8 million in area economic impact since 2014 – including more than $2 million last year.

Roscoe Owner Receives LBRA Leadership Award

The Roscoe Company has been active in the association since its founding. Owner Jim Buik, the outgoing board chairman and a driving force behind the founding of LBRA, was honored with a leadership award for his service and stewardship during his two-year term as chairman.

Garden City Business Center Brings New Businesses to the West Side

The Garden City Business Center, named after one of Chicago's early nicknames – the phrase "City in a Garden" in Latin and part of the city seal – is home to four businesses and contains incubator space for more. Dearborn Denim and Apparel, maker of men's and women's blue jeans, and Junk King, an independently owned junk removal franchise, are among the businesses that have relocated to the Center at 3333 W. Harrison.

The property was the original home of Garden City Laundry and previously served as a second Roscoe Plant before the consolidation of both plants to the current headquarters location a little further west on Harrison Street as part of a major sustainability initiative. A broker is currently seeking an additional tenant for the building's last 5,000 square feet so, if you know of any businesses that are interested in the space, please let us know.

More about the LBRA

The following is a letter sent by LBRA executive director, E. Bernard Jennings:

Greetings LBRA Members:

I am contacting you today to wish you the best of business success in 2017. Please know that Lawndale Business Renaissance Association (LBRA) continues to be available to assist you with all of your business needs. We will continue to keep you aware of any programs and incentives that may become available and help resolve any business issues you may have.

A hearty and sincere thank you goes out to each and every one of you for your financial support since our organizations' founding in 2014. In light of this I wanted to inform you of the 2016 Economic Impact LBRA was able to accomplish through your financial support.

During 2016 fiscal year, LBRA assisted in $2,072,985 of area Economic Impact. Since LBRA’s founding in 2014, we have achieved $8,742,816 in area Economic Impact.

As members, your financial support has been well spent as demonstrated by our impact numbers and issues LBRA has resolved for you. I therefore ask for your continued financial support in 2017. LBRA would like to make this another successful year for the revitalization of our underserved business community. We will be mailing each of you renewal information for your membership.

We also ask that you reach out to other non-member companies to inform them of the services provided by LBRA and encourage them to become a member. There is strength in numbers and it helps in gaining the attention of governing bodies that can assist us in our common mission of improving and revitalizing our business community.

I would also like to inform those of you that were not able to attend our December 2016 membership meeting, LBRA has a new Board of Directors Chairman, Tom Glass – President of Able Electropolishing and a new Vice-chairman, Eric Lindsay – owner of Westside Insurance. Both of these gentlemen are founding members of LBRA.

Our sincere thanks to Jim Buik, owner of Roscoe Company for his service, guidance and stewardship during his years of service as LBRA Board Chairman from 2014-2016. Jim's vision for a stronger business environment was one of the driving forces for the founding of LBRA for which we will be forever grateful.

As usual, if there is anything LBRA can do to be of assistance to your company, please give us a call. Remember LBRA is not our organization – but is your organization and we work for you. Once again, thanks for your continued support.